ArchiCAD for Students - FAQ's

Experience the software, industry leaders are using. The fully functional Education Version of ArchiCAD^® is available to Students and Teachers for FREE!

In addition, you can download ArchiCAD add-on’s such as EcoDesigner, MEP Modeler & Objective.

Also available for download is ArchiCAD Interactive Training Guides and a selection of Cadimage tools, all free from www.myarchicad.com when you register and qualify for a student/ teacher ArchiCAD licence.

To get yourself an ArchiCAD Education Version: Register here

The following are the most FAQ’s students and teachers ask us, please refer to this before you request technical support assistance (instructions on how to obtain support detailed in Q & A # 19)

My ArchiCAD won’t run!

1. Uninstall ArchiCAD.
2. Disable ALL anti-virus, firewall and spyware software. If this is not done, chances are the install will never work.
3. Reinstall ArchiCAD.

If that doesn't work, then there are 2 more options:

1. Re-download the install files and try again (following the above steps).
2. Install from DVD. (To get disk contact Graphisoft 1300 USE BIM (873 246).

I can’t install ArchiCAD

1. Disable ALL anti-virus, firewall and spyware software. If this is not done, chances are the install will never work. Some anti-virus software continues to work even when disabled or uninstalled due to residual parts of the anti-virus software.
2. Install ArchiCAD.
If that doesn't work, there are 2 more options.
3. Re-download the install files and try again (following the above steps).
4. Install from DVD. You could ask a lecturer/teacher, they may have a DVD that you could copy.
5. Alternatively we can post you a copy, contact Melinda Preston (National Education Programs Executive) melinda.preston@graphisoft.com.au 1300 USE BIM (873 246).

It won’t let me enter the serial number

The student needs to be particularly careful when entering the serial number, avoiding spaces and distinguishing the letter “O” from zero “0”.
Alternatively, Copy and paste the serial number into the spaces provided.

I can only open ArchiCAD in demo mode

Here the student ArchiCAD licence may not be recognizing the serial number,
Check status of serial number enquire via email to melinda.preston@graphisoft.com.au.
Or, the student license has expired. If your licence has expired, you must register again for a 12-month student licence.

How do I get a student license?

1. Register and download the student licence from www.myarchicad.com .
2. Follow the verification process.
3. Register for the one-year licence and fill in the online form within your account on myarchicad.com website. This form is your application for the 12-month licence and should be completed in full.
* Please note - Ensure you fill in, your FULL name, contact phone number, FULL school name, entire school address, name of faculty or subject and your student identification number supplied by your education provider, the ID number is usually found on the student ID card. Once this is complete, Graphisoft will approve the 12-month licence for those who have provided the required information. Approval will be within 30 days from the day the application form is submitted.

I have applied for the 1 year licence but I have not received my new serial number.

Applications are processed once per week, allow up to 7 days from the time of application to receive notification about your 1 year licence.
Please note: When your application is approved, you will receive an email from myarchicad.com congratulating you on your new MyArchiCAD account, within the email you will find a link, this will take you to your myarchicad account profile where you will be able to retrieve your 1-year serial number.

If 7 days has passed & you have not received the email from myarchicad.com, the email may have been blocked. Simply log into your myarchicad profile account and check for your 1-year serial number, if you find that your 1 year licence has not been approved, contact us via email melinda.preston@graphisoft.com.au

I have projects in ArchiCAD 14 that I am still working on and my ArchiCAD 14 licence has expired or is due to expire soon. Will I be able to open my AC14 files in AC15 and continue working without loosing library parts etc..?

Yes, you can open AC14 files in AC15. In AC15 open the AC14 project file. Load the ArchiCAD 15 Library and the Migration library.
To do this; load the library called “ArchiCAD 15 Migration Library” from within the ArchiCAD 14 folder using File>Libraries and Objects>Library Manager...

Is BIMx (BIM Explorer) available for students, teachers & Schools?

Yes on a trial version, its also availabe as an iPhone/iPad app from Apples App store.

My ArchiCAD won’t save!

This can source from a number of issues:

Working in demo mode
Working without a license
As work cannot be saved, the student should stop work, and resolve the issue before proceeding.
Check status of student license.

10.

I have been working on this file for 5 days and ArchiCAD won’t save – how do I save my work?

Follow these steps:

Launch a new instance of ArchiCAD and verify that save function is available.
Set up Story Settings to match existing file.
Copy and paste the model data into the new file.
Work in layout book will have to be imported or re-created.

11.

In plan I can’t see the elastic line when I click and drag?

This is probably a video card issue. Refer to ArchicadWiki:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/Video%20Cards%20for%20ArchiCAD%2013

Users need to use a video card that is compatible with their operating system and the version number of ArchiCAD they are running.
Users need to use a video card that has been tested and passed by Graphisoft.
Users need to pay particular attention to the Video Card Driver version number that was used and passed by Graphisoft. Later versions may not.

12.

When I go to the 3D window I get a not enough memory message

This means there is not enough memory in your computer to generate the amount of detail in the 3D view. Make sure your model is close to the ArchiCAD Origin (0,0,0). Having the model a number of kilometers from the Origin will cause problems.

If your model is close to the ArchiCAD Origin, you will need to reduce the number of polygons in the 3D view.

You can do this by:

Turning off any layers that are not visible in the 3D view e.g. interior furniture in an external view.
Turning off or simplify objects that have a high polygon count e.g. trees, objects with complex curves like 3d shower bases and toilets, reduce the number of cars in a view, reduce the number of leaves on the trees.
Turning off sun shading in the 3D view.
Using the OpenGL engine to generate the 3D view.

To check the number of polygons in the 3D window; install the Polygon Counting Tool add-on.

In ArchiCAD go to Help->ArchiCAD 14/15 Downloads

this opens a web browser page where you can download the Polygon counting Tool add-on.

follow the instructions in the READ ME link to install the Polygon Counting Tool.
use the Polygon Counting Tool to check the total number of polygon in your 3D view.

A complex 3D view in ArchiCAD on 32bit windows can have up to approximately 500,000 polygons before memory is exceeded, but you will probably want to keep in around the 200,000 polygon mark, if you run other applications at the same time as ArchiCAD.

On 64 bit operating systems with greater than 4 Gb of RAM, you are able to have more polygons in a 3D view.

The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows 7:

Version	Limit in 32-bit Windows	Limit in 64-bit Windows
Windows 7 Ultimate	4 GB	192 GB
Windows 7 Enterprise	4 GB	192 GB
Windows 7 Professional	4 GB	192 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium	4 GB	16 GB
Windows 7 Home Basic	4 GB	8 GB
Windows 7 Starter	2 GB	2 GB

13.

Whenever I use Lightworks I get a not enough memory message

Similar to question 9 above. Please refer to the answer for Question 9.

14.

I am running Windows 7 on a 64 bit computer. Where is my Quicktime VR?

Quicktime VR is not available on the Windows 7 platform.
(Apple do not support Quicktime VR on Microsoft Windows 7)
Quicktime VR is available on Windows XP
Quicktime VR is available on Apple Mac OSX.

15.

When I draw something in the 2D window it does not show up on my drawings?

This may source from layer combination settings used for the saved drawing,

Select the drawings View Map icon and check its layer combination in the settings.
Do not save drawings using “Custom” layer combination.
Always save drawings using the appropriate Layer Combination

16.

I got a virus on my computer and had to reformat my hard drive. How do I get my student files back?

Backups should be saved regularly to an external drive, CD/DVD or USB thumb drive in case of data loss. Unfortunately, there is no way for Graphisoft Australia to recover lost files.
To help recover lost files we suggest you contact your IT Consultant?

17.

Where can I find cool library parts for free?

Visit http://www.archicadwiki.com/LinkCollection/GDL%20Object%20Downloads
for a long list of sites where you can download GDL objects. Just remember the quality of objects varies and Graphisoft Australia does not support or endorse objects that have not been created by Graphisoft.

18.

Is the Australian Essential Library available to students?

Yes!

You must have a myarchicad account and have been approved for a 12-month licence to be entitled access to the library.Please request a login & password by emailing us at info@graphisoft.com.au

19.

What learning resources are available to help me become an awesome renderer?

There is a DVD that can be purchased from Graphisoft. Visit http://www.graphisoft.com.au/products/archicad-tutorial/ . Alternatively, you may check to see if your school or colleges learning resource centre has a copy or would be willing purchase one.

20.

Why are objects missing from my school project when I open up my project at home? All I see is a large dot where my objects used to be!

If the library doesn’t exist on a computer you are working on, then you will have to get access to it, save it to your computer and then link or reload it to a project using the library manager. The library manager can be accessed through the menu under File>Libraries and Objects>Library Manager. Alternatively save your project as an ArchiCAD archive project (.PLA) before you take it to another computer. This will embed the objects into the file rather than linking them.

21.

I have drawn objects but they disappear when I move from one part of the navigator to another.

It may be that the concept of layers and layer combinations needs to be better understood. Pages 152 – 161 of the Version 13 Reference guide offer some very good background. The reference guide is found in the menu under Help. Just remember in ArchiCAD, you model up a building once and then can control the information you show by creating views with layer combinations assigned to each view.

22.

How can I get technical support?

For all technical support issues, please first consult your teacher at your school/institution and if they are unable to solve your issue they can contact us directly at melinda.preston@graphisoft.com.au or info@graphisoft.com.au

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